Best Bread Machine Pretzels EVER!

This is the best recipe ever for making pretzel dough in your bread machine, of course you can also make by hand if you have a good understanding of dough making. I do not, so I get a lot of use out of my bread machine for just making dough.

The real true trick, that even my recipe book for my bread machine failed to point out is the use of simmering water mixed with baking soda. From now on I will only make my pretzels this way.

I just simple mixed 5 cups of water with 1/3 cup of baking soda, mixed it really well, brought it to a simmer and put the pretzels in for a few seconds on each side.

Pictured above are the pretzels I made, regular salted pretzels, some yummy garlic ones, and cinnamon sugar. I will admit the cinnamon sugar stick type pretzel did not have much taste.

They taste just like you got them at a pretzel stand!!

You have to try this recipe Soft Pretzels (For Bread Machines),

I'm In Love

I'm in love........with my NAILS!!

Well I have FINALLY done it! I changed my nail shape for the first time. Typing and pressing buttons seems to be a tad difficult but nothing I can't manage. Honestly, I can't stop looking at them LOL.

You would never think a girl with nails like this, tends to vegetable gardens, flower gardens, feeding and cleaning laying hens, and mowing the lawn.

I feel like this shape may have less lifting, but time will tell, I will update about that when I get my next set.

No Nails, No Problem

Such a beautiful color, the picture does not do it justice. This feels a lot better than what they did. I have had my nails done with gel nails for about 8 years at least, and Laura, my nail tech, has done them for at least 5 years. Well this time they lifted and I mean 2 weeks in they were weak, and then at 2.5 weeks I had squeaked so much glue underneath them they they wouldn't stay down anymore. So I removed them and painted them myself. I must add painting your own nails is tedious and it took forever to dry. So I am very thankful for my favorite and most awesome nail tech!! Anyone who get's their nails done and loses one or two or more, knows the struggle is real, when you bang your real nail on something or try and use it as a tool, OUCH!

I thought, jeeze my nails must be some dry, or they were pretty long, and I find when they are long they lift more.

Well, Laura informed me that there was a problem with the bond, pretty much the first step of application to help bond the gel to your nail. Who would of known.

So this made me think, how many times someone might of had their nails done and they have had them fall off quickly. People would jump to conclusions, "omg that nail tech did a horrible job" or "I will never go back there", or even mention something on social media to their friends and family.

So maybe if this ever happens to you or someone know, you might want to look into a bond problem, especially if you have had gel nails before and it has never happened.

BzzAgent, BzzCampaign - Cascade Platinum with Dawn

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I just was excited to receive my BzzCampaign today. I have already done a load in the dishwasher, and I didn't rinse anything before placing them in. They came out so clean, not a spec of food to be seen. The glasses are crystal clear, the utensils sparkle, and the plates are squeaky clean. Not to mention the packs are so easy and clean, no need to pour in a powder and chance spilling those little particles. There was no residue left on the dishes or in the dishwasher itself. 

Cascade is usually the brand I grab off the shelf at the grocery store, so this is not my first encounter. The price is really reasonable in comparison to other brands, and the quality is great. 

I definitely will recommend Cascade Platinum to my friends and family.

Interested in receiving free products and giving your opinion, as well as receiving coupons and discounts for your friends and family, join BzzAgent.

Ipsy Bag May 2015

Yay! My Ipsy bag is live so I get to see all the goodies I am getting. I am happy with everything. Now is the waiting game. Amazing sample and deluxe sample sizes for only $10 a month.

Spring Has Sprung

Yesterday was beautiful and today seems to be heading in the same direction. My parents took us out for supper last evening at Swiss Chalet, it was a very nice time, lots of laughs and good conversation. We went out for some light shopping afterward. That was a nice end to the evening.

My morning included the normal weekend routine of washing dishes, cleaning the floors, making breakfast and then more cleaning.

I did take a walk around the yard and I was excited to see my garlic is sprouting up. I did lose a couple and the rows got washed out a bit from the harsh winter. We will fix them up when the full vegetable garden gets planted.

Also my garden has started to show signs of life as well. I am not sure of the names of the plants, I think the ones in front are day lily's. 

I feel like some baking is in my near future, I am thinking cinnamon rolls, and apple upside down cake. Yumm!

Mother's Day Meal Plan

I am not a Chef or meal planner but we do love our mothers and we think they will love this meal and of course love us more because it will be so fantastic!

For Mother's Day, Hubby and I will have our mother's over and cook for them and give gifts.They don't have to touch a pot, pan, or dishcloth. Just relax and enjoy.

Appetizer: Sizzling Sherry Shrimp with Garlic both of our mom's enjoy shrimp so I thought this would be nice, and pretty light to start off with, I will probably only plate 5 shrimp each.

Entrée: Garlic Bread the bread will hit the table second for them to munch if they like, while we finish preparing the main course.

Main course: Homemade 4 Cheese Ravioli if we pull this off it will be magnificent. No one in our family can resist cheese especially 4 stuffed in a perfectly made ravioli dough (here's hoping LOL). I think the Pesto-Alfredo Cream Sauce might just knock their socks off.

Dessert: Nanaimo Bars who doesn't love a good Nanaimo bar? My mouth is watering just mentioning it. I don't think they will be able to resist that chocolate top and the yummy middle filling!








I will test making the ravioli dough ahead of time, just to be sure it won't flop last minute. Expect pictures of how my dinner turned out versus the pictures above. We might be able to add some "Nailed it!" memes ;)